Topic: Suspension clunk

[mmret]

So the Z4 makes a regular "clunking" noise when going around corners and on bumps. Not 100% sure if it is from the front or the rear. If you knock on a piece of MDF you'll hear something vaguely similar. I thought it would be a loose sway bar or something.

Took it to a garage and they said it was the front control arm bushings. I thought that was rather odd, as the steering seems totally fine and the car is perfectly straight under braking.

Can a bad front control arm bushing actually cause such a headache? The OEM ones are $200 each (!!!!!), but aftermarket can be had for about $90/pair. Maybe they will toss it under what little warranty I have left...

[tpl]

How about the bushes on those little arms that join the front antiroll bar to the suspension.

[mmret]

How about the bushes on those little arms that join the front antiroll bar to the suspension.

That would make more sense. I should phone them again tomorrow and speak to the actual mechanic.

And THOSE better not be $200 a pop.

[Railton]

Is it just me or are there more than the normal amount of issues with this Z4 over dare I say...a Japanese brand with the vastly inferior "feel"?
Railton

[rrocket]

Is it just me or are there more than the normal amount of issues with this Z4 over dare I say...a Japanese brand with the vastly inferior "feel"?
Railton

Yup.....


Yea, it could be ANYTHING making clunks.  Sway bar links, sway bar bushing, control arm bushings...it's endless.  You'd be surprised at how something so little or barely damaged can cause a racket in the suspension...

[mmret]

Is it just me or are there more than the normal amount of issues with this Z4 over dare I say...a Japanese brand with the vastly inferior "feel"?
Railton

Whatcha trying' to say here

[Julie]

We had something similar on our old Camry.  But because of the way those front control arm bushings were attached to the whole control arm (something like that), the repair bill cost over $1000.   

[tpl]

How about the bushes on those little arms that join the front antiroll bar to the suspension.

That would make more sense. I should phone them again tomorrow and speak to the actual mechanic.

And THOSE better not be $200 a pop.

One of those went on my 330. They were fixed under warranty (you  have to do both sides even if only one has failed ) and the parts would have been $100 each side IIRC

[mmret]

How about the bushes on those little arms that join the front antiroll bar to the suspension.

That would make more sense. I should phone them again tomorrow and speak to the actual mechanic.

And THOSE better not be $200 a pop.

One of those went on my 330. They were fixed under warranty (you  have to do both sides even if only one has failed ) and the parts would have been $100 each side IIRC

$100 a side, odd. Are you referring to #2 in the link here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BU53&mospid=49305&btnr=31_0649&hg=31&fg=10

[articsteve]

Is it just me or are there more than the normal amount of issues with this Z4 over dare I say...a Japanese brand with the vastly inferior "feel"?
Railton

  

[articsteve]

Took it to a garage and they said it was the front control arm bushings

Overwhelming data suggests this is the case.


http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=12055

Ok, not so overwhelming evidence from that video, but your unit is close enough. 

The E46 3 Series (1999-2006) and E85/6 Z4 (2002-2008) have pre-mature wear issues with the factory front control arm bushings that can create a shuttering ...

http://store.bimmerworld.com/meyle-hd-and-replacement-e46-3-seriesz4-front-control-arm-bushing-sets-p704.aspx


Well of course they prematurely fail ....... FLUID FILLED. 

I'm taking an interest in this thread because I'm zeroing in on a replacement for my 1990 944 S2 subject to it blowing up.    I'm going for the coupe only. 

[articsteve]

Are you referring to #2 in the link here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BU53&mospid=49305&btnr=31_0649&hg=31&fg=10  
 
Highly unlikely @ "your" age and mileage.
 

[1TSX]

It could be anything...the TSX is starting to clunk on the passenger front side. It started to happen after I hit a curb (downhill, icy at the time  ) sideways, at 5 km/h.

[Mr. Fasteners]

It could be anything...the TSX is starting to clunk on the passenger front side. It started to happen after I hit a curb (downhill, icy at the time  ) sideways, at 5 km/h.

check your upper shock or spring mount.  Does it happen when you go over bumps or when you are turning while still the car is moving?

[bridgecity]

Front end clunks can be extremely difficult to pinpoint.  Best bet for a vehicle out of warranty is to find a shop with a set of chassis ears to diagnose.

[tpl]

How about the bushes on those little arms that join the front antiroll bar to the suspension.

That would make more sense. I should phone them again tomorrow and speak to the actual mechanic.

And THOSE better not be $200 a pop.

One of those went on my 330. They were fixed under warranty (you  have to do both sides even if only one has failed ) and the parts would have been $100 each side IIRC

$100 a side, odd. Are you referring to #2 in the link here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BU53&mospid=49305&btnr=31_0649&hg=31&fg=10

The bushings in part #5 which are not replacable separately...or at least on the E46 330xi they weren't. So it was required to replace 2 part #5.   My car had no steering or handling problems that I could detect apart for a clunking on rough surfaces at low speeds ( could not hear it at higher speeds ove rthe other normal noises)

[Erik]

We had something similar on our old Camry.  But because of the way those front control arm bushings were attached to the whole control arm (something like that), the repair bill cost over $1000.

That would be one of those Japanese brands with the vastly inferior feel, right guys?

[mmret]

Took it to a garage and they said it was the front control arm bushings

Overwhelming data suggests this is the case.


http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=12055

Ok, not so overwhelming evidence from that video, but your unit is close enough. 

The E46 3 Series (1999-2006) and E85/6 Z4 (2002-2008) have pre-mature wear issues with the factory front control arm bushings that can create a shuttering ...

http://store.bimmerworld.com/meyle-hd-and-replacement-e46-3-seriesz4-front-control-arm-bushing-sets-p704.aspx


Well of course they prematurely fail ....... FLUID FILLED. 

I'm taking an interest in this thread because I'm zeroing in on a replacement for my 1990 944 S2 subject to it blowing up.    I'm going for the coupe only. 

The thing is as far as I can tell the car tracks straight and I feel no irregularities in the steering.

For the clunk they also found that the rear diff bracket was cracked at the bolt. So that's going to have to get replaced.

For the front control arm bushing I'm going to take it out and see if it shudders when braking from high speed.

[1TSX]

It could be anything...the TSX is starting to clunk on the passenger front side. It started to happen after I hit a curb (downhill, icy at the time  ) sideways, at 5 km/h.

check your upper shock or spring mount.  Does it happen when you go over bumps or when you are turning while still the car is moving?

Its very loud when turning on a bump.

[mmret]

Couldn't notice much of anything from the wheel when braking from high speed. I have my doubts about whether the FCABs are about to go but as they are a known failure point on E46 / Z4s maybe I'll just get the replaced (solid rubber aftermarket version).

The diff "bracket" now I guess is legit, but I haven't seen exactly which part it is.